thomas



E, L. THOMAS.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED III/w29, Ism.

. MIN I @NI WIN NIN

E. L. THOMAS...

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY29. 1915.

hmmm@ Patented Dee. 23,1919.

lYSHIEETS-SHIEET 2.

INVENTUR MK3 ATTmRNiYE.

E. I.. IHOII/IAS.

(IAS ENGINE. APPLICATION I'IIED IIIAY29, ISI@A 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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I N I I RII I III IIL WI I SI'I NI O III INI# 1-` yI QD I I II@ I Q I AQ I II I I O v@ :Il I *if "I Q.. o 'II o IIN IIIIAu f4 'J- II I ""I @a I si I -I II :u I II III II. I @I I I I III III bIII I I I m I XII I I INvENTmR 'DY/C/A'Qg/'f/u E. L. 4THOMAS.

GAS ENGINE.

LlcAl'roN HLED 'nM/29.1915.

APP

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Be it known that l, EDWIN LTI-iones, a

citizen of the United States, residing lat Bulfalmin the'county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful llmprovements in Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

' rfhisfinvention relates to a multiple cylinder gas engine, andmo're particularly to an engine of this character commonly known as lil-shaped motors.

lln engines of this type as heretofore constructed the valves and their operating mechanism are usually so arranged that the same are dimcult to reach for the purpose of inspecting, adjusting or repairing the same and are so organized that the engine is difhcult to cool and many parts are exposed and detract from the appearance of the eni eine.

'llhe object of this invention is the produc-- tion of lit-shaped multiple cylinder engines in which the valves and their operating mechanism are so arranged that these parts are conveniently and readily accessible when inspection, adjustment or repairs are neces.- sary, which permits ofelliciently cooling the cylinders and in which the valve mechanism is concealed so as to improve the appearance of the engine.

ln the accompanying drawings: p

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section or a multiple cylinder gas engine embodying my invention, the section being taken through apair of opposing cylinders and their companion intake valves and associated parts. hig., 2 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section of the same taken through the exhaust valves of a pair of cylinders and associated parts. lFig. 8 is 'an oblique longitudinal section taken on line 9i-w3, 1. lFig. el is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line d-T-df, lFig. 1. lfig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 5&5, lliig. 1.

-fiiinilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

1 represents they crank case of the enginewliich is provided at its opposite ends with longitudinal bearings 2, 3 andV l is the crank shaft arranged lengthwise in the crank case and jornaled'in said hearings.

5, 6 represent a plurality of pairs of opposing power or working cylinders which are arranged at an angle relatively to each tpecicationot Letters lltatent. lpgrtgnmtrgdl Mpg, @E59 jtgtjlltpo Application 'tiled May :29, 1915. erial No. 31,165?. l

other and connected at their inner or front ends with opposite sides of the crank case `so that the axes of these cylinders forming a pair converge downwardly toward the crank shaft and intersect the airis of the latter. l, 8 represent pairs of pistons which reciprocate lengthwise respectively in the cylinders 5,' 6 and each pair of pistons being connected by pairs of pitmen or connect- Gil three pairs of cylinders, pistons and rods are shown together with three cranks and the latter are arranged on different radial lines relatively to the crank shaft, so that theoperations of drawing in charges ofh v fresh fuel, compressing the same, errploding the charges and exhausting the same relatively' to the several cylinders, may be edected successively and in proper sequence to cause the engine to run smoothly and distribute the strains evenly in the usual and well known manner practised in this type of engine. Y y r 12, 13 represent two valve chests arranged lengthwise on opposite sides of the longitudinal center or crank shaft-and each chest connecting with the upper parts of the outer ends of the cylinders on one side of the engine. 'llhese two valves chests are connected by a horizontal cross piece or truss 14 which is separated on its underside from the cylinders and crank case by an intervening space or passage lthrough which air may circulate freely for assisting in cooling the engine when the same is in operation. This cross piece, the valve chests, the several pairs of cylinders and the upper part 16 of the crank case 'are preferably formed integrally ,by casting the same in one piece, while the lower section 17 of the crank case is detachably connected by bolts lil, or otherwise'to the upper section 16, whereby a very strong and durable construction is produced.

lrlach of the valve chests is provided with a fuel supply manifold or-intake 19 which opens by means of a fuel inlet port 20 into ya valve chamber 21 forming an upward ertension of the upper end of each cylinder on the respective side of the engine, and also with an exhaust manifold 22 which opens by means of an outlet or ekhaust port 23 into titi llll

lltltl lltlli "section, -as shown in Figs. l, 2v andf 5.

valve stems 'or rods which stem sections are arranged parallel and reciprocate in horizontal guideways 28, 29 arranged on the' adjacent valve chest, as shown in Figs. l, 2

and 5. The inner or rear sections 30, 31`

of the stems of the inlet and exhaust valves are adjustably connected with the respective outer valve stem sections and guided in` sleeves 32, 33 mounted in the standard' 34 rising from the adjacent part of the cross piece or truss. These valve stems are moved inwardly for closingthe valves which they carry by means of outer or front springs 35 each of which surrounds an outer valve stem section -and bears at its outer end againstthe adjacent valve chest while itsinner end bears`against a collar or shoulder 36 on the respective outer valve stem section, and inner or rear springs 37 each of which surrounds one of the inner valve stem sectionsand bears at its outer end against a shoulder on the. adjacent guide sleeve while its inner end bears against a head 38 on the o inner end ofthe respective inner valve stm n the outer sides of the valve chests the same are provided with openings in line with the valves through which the latter and their 'stems are moved when. mounting or unmounting the same and which are normally closed by screw caps orplugs 39, 40 or the like.

4l represents a horizontal valve shaft arranged above the crankshaft and vertically in line and parallel therewith. This valve shaft is journaled in suitable bearings 42, 42 on the truss and is turned by motion derived from the crank. shaft by means of a chain belt 43 passing around a sprocket pinion 44 -on the crank shaft and a sprocket wheel 45 on the valve shaft, said transmitting mechanism being designed to produce one rotation of the valve shaft for every two rotations of the crank shaft. 4G, 47

` represent a plurality of pairs of cams which are arranged on the valve shaft so that each cam 46'engages with the inner end of the inner valve stem section of a fuel inlet valve while the companion cam 47 engages with the inner end of the inner valve stem section of the corresponding exhaust outlet valve of the same engine cylinder, as shown ,y and exhaust outlets and havin 1n Figs..v 1 and 2.-These cams andithe means for rotating the same are so timed that during the forward suction stroke ofeach piston 'the companion" fuel valve will valve is opened to permitthe spent gases or products of combustion to escape, this operation beinglikelthat of the well known type of gas engines working on thel four-v stroke cycle principle.

Above the valve shaft andthe inner ends of the valve stems and associated part is arranged a cover 49V which is detachably secured at its edges by screws 50 to the valve chests and cross piece. v

lVlien the valve operating mechanism is thus covered a neat appearance of the engine is presented. inasmuch as all its working parts are by this means concealed from view.

.henever it is' desired to inspect, adjust,

or repair the-valve operating mechanism it is only necessary to remove the cover 49 whereby all parts of this mechanism are ac` cessible and within convenient reach so that any attention which this mechanism requires may be easily and readily given to the same. This advantage is due to the fact that valve stems are raised at an angle to the working cylinders and arranged in the upper part of the space between the converging cylinders, 'instead of beingparallel with these cylinders and Aarranged in the lower part of this space. Although the precise arrangement of the valve stems relativelyto the working cylinders may be variedr and still secure this advantage, it is preferable toso arrange the cylinders of a pair that they form two-sides of a triangle and to so arrange the stems lof the valve mechanism associated therewith that they forni the third side of this triangle. This arrange- Ament not only renders the valve operating mechanism. easy of access, but the same owing to the |triangular lrelation off the working cylinders, cross-piece and the parts movably mounted thereon produces an -exceedingly strong construction which is capable of withstanding great strains, thereby rendering the same particularly desirable where a strong, light, powerful engine is required, i

I claim as my invention:

A multiple cylinder gas engine comprising a crank shaft, two power cylinders provided at their outer ends with fuel intakes their axes converging toward, said crank s aft, intake rammelt and exhaust Valves for controlling the intakes and exhausts ot said cylinders and having reciprocating stems which project toward each other and are arranged at an angle to their respective cylinders, a valve shaft arranged between said valves and parallel with said crankshaft and'having cams operating'on the inner ends of said valve stems, an upper base section connecting the loWerAends ont said cylinders, andv guides tor said Valve stems, said cylinders forming two sides and `said Valve stems the -third side of a triangle, and the junction of the centerline of said valve stems and the axes of said cylinders being arranged beyond the outer ends of said cylinders and said valve stems and cani shaft being arranged in? the'same plane, said cylinders, fuel intakes, exhaust outlets, valve guides and apper hase section being formed integrally ot `a single 

